The Chapel
The quiet interior, with its window framing the red rocks behind the altar and rows of candles you can light.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
A modernist Catholic chapel built straight into Sedona's red rock in 1956, with a great cross-shaped window looking out over the buttes.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross rises straight out of a red-rock butte just south of Sedona, a slab of concrete and glass with a cross that is also its structure. Built in 1956, it was the idea of Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a sculptor inspired by the new Empire State Building to build a modern church.
Inside, a single great window looks out over the buttes and desert, and it is quiet even when the parking lot is full. Whatever your faith, it's one of the most striking buildings in the Southwest.
- Best Time
- March–May and September–November
- Time Needed
- 1 hour
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Every day; check the chapel's website for hours
- Getting There
- Off Highway 179, about ten minutes south of central Sedona. Parking at the top is small; arrive early or late.
What to See
2 of 2 are freeThe View from the Ramp
The walk up the ramp gives wide views of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and the cliffs around the chapel.
Know Before You Go
- It's a working Catholic chapel. Speak quietly inside.
- Entry is free; donations are welcome. There are no restrooms at the top.
Where to Stay
Stay in Sedona.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Traveler Reviews
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Southwest list.